Yard Work is Hard Work: Jodie Mack

“Yard Work is Hard Work”

Jodie Mack, Assistant Professor of Animation, Dartmouth College

I am a huge fan of Jodie Mack’s art – specifically the style in which she constructs it. The longer animation really brought out the realistic parts of a romantic relationship. We so badly want to disassociate from reality when we’re in love. It is easy to be consumed by a relationship to the point of complete tunnel vision.  This cocoon would be heavenly if sustainable, but reality will undoubtedly butt its way in. Invariably, the actuality of debt and monetary stresses will surface eventually. Although two people might be extremely compatible, or even just terribly in love, an array of circumstantial factors can drive them apart.

It seemed like color played a significant role throughout the duration of the animation. Toward the beginning, the scenes were bright and vibrant; red was the most prominent color, varying with other vivid hues. It seems like an intuitive selection of color – new love is exciting and passionate. However, by the end, nearly every scene was washed out and tainted blue. I appreciated the use of the color blue on the house. Blue is practically synonymous with sadness and of course, we’re all familiar with ‘the blues’. I thought it was especially fitting in this animation because the blue house is ultimately what tore the couple apart.

Over the course of this lecture series, it’s become apparent how differently individuals can interpret love and desire. During some lectures, I found myself thinking, “Ah, she get’s it,” or, “he gets it.” Whereas in other lectures, I’d have a lot of difficulty not only identifying, but also relating to and interpreting the message of the lecture. I don’t believe this disparity is a matter of right or wrong, but simply different methods of interpretation. The predominantly left-brained speakers highlighted the logic and reason behind the pursuit of a beloved. The right-brained lecturers, on the other hand, seemed to focus more on the artistic products of love and desire. I fancy myself to fall in the latter category of thinkers.